Tampa Carjacking Defense Attorney

Motor Vehicle Theft by Force or Threatening in FL

An accusation of carjacking in Tampa is very serious.  You could go to jail for a long time and face other serious consequences like fines and losing your license.  Carjacking occurs when someone steals a car from another individual by using violence, threats, force, or assault; it is usually considered a first-degree felony.

If you have been accused of carjacking in Tampa, you shouldn’t defend yourself in court.  You should hire an experienced Tampa carjacking attorney to look at your case and defend you rigorously against the state prosecutors.   The attorneys at Taracks & Associates have been defending clients accused of carjacking for a very long time.  We offer free consultations, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Give us a call at 813-281-2897 to set up an appointment.

Why Choose Us?

Mistakes happen.  We are all human. But being accused of carjacking is extremely serious, and you don’t want to make another mistake by not hiring a Tampa carjacking lawyer who knows how to defend you. You will want a lawyer who has previously defended those accused of carjacking and understands what the prosecution has to prove in order to get a guilty verdict. Other reasons to hire Taracks & Associates include the following:

• Our legal staff includes a former prosecutor who knows how the prosecutors try to prove that the defendant is guilty.  We use that knowledge to defend you in court.
• Barry Taracks has a history of practicing in both state and federal courts. While we primarily practice in the Tampa Bay area, we can assist you in referring you to an attorney outside of Mr. Taracks’ geographical practice.
• Barry has been the lead attorney in hundreds of trials in front of a jury.  He has the experience and know-how to vigorously defend the accusations against you.
• Take a look at our track record.  We have helped many clients get their charges reduced or dismissed entirely.
• Our previous clients say nice things about us, which shows that we truly care about them and they were satisfied with our work.

So, don’t put your life into the hands of an attorney who doesn’t have the experience and knowledge to defend your case to the fullest.  Give Taracks & Associates a call today.

Why You Need a Tampa Carjacking Lawyer

You may think that you can defend yourself in court after being charged with carjacking in Tampa.  However, this would be a terrible mistake.  Lawyers become prosecutors because they want to “throw the book” at any defendants that they face, and they won’t stop until the job is done.  You need to counter the strong prosecution with an even stronger defense and hire a Tampa carjacking attorney.  Your defense attorney will help by . . .

• Looking at the charges against you and coming up with valid defenses
• Speaking to any witnesses to the alleged crime and deposing the police officers that handled the case
• Looking over any pictures or videos from the time of your arrest
• Speaking with the prosecutors and the judge on your behalf
• Negotiating with the prosecutor to try to get the charges reduced or dismissed
• Defending you in court in front of a judge and jury.

Penalties for Carjacking

Florida statute 812.133 lays out the definition of carjacking and the penalties that can be issued against the accused.  The penalties can be severe even if the accused does not have a criminal history.

According to Florida law, the minimum penalty for carjacking is 21 months in jail.  However, the maximum is 30 years in prison, 30 years of probation, and $10,000 in fines.  If the accused used a weapon during the carjacking, the penalties are much stricter.   The maximum penalties for carjacking with a weapon is life in prison and life probation.  Last, if the accused used a firearm during the carjacking, the charges are subject to Florida’s 10-20-Life statute, which means a minimum of 10 years in prison, 20 years if the firearm is discharged, and a minimum of 25 years if the carjacker injures or killed someone.

Defenses for Carjacking Charges in Tampa

If you hire a reputable carjacking defense attorney, they will explain to you that there are many defense strategies they can use against the prosecution.  Some of those defense strategies are:

• Claim of Right Defense – If the car taker believes in good faith that they are the rightful owner of the vehicle and they are entitled to immediate possession of the car, this can be used as a defense against a carjacking charge.
• Your Mere Presence at the Carjacking – If you are present at a carjacking or even knew that the carjacking was going to take place, those reasons alone do not mean that you are guilty of carjacking — for example, if you are with a friend and they carjack a vehicle and you didn’t know they were going to do it.
• Stealing The Car was an Afterthought – If the carjacking is the result of an “afterthought” of force or violence, the perpetrator may be convicted of other crimes, such as Grand Theft Auto, but not carjacking.

Of course, these defenses will need to be proven by a knowledgeable Tampa carjacking attorney, but it is a good first step in defending your case in court.  Remember, the prosecution has to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you are guilty of the crime.

Taracks & Associates Answers your Frequently Asked Questions

We know that you will have many questions for us when we first meet to discuss your case.  However, there are some questions that we get a lot from clients, so we share them with you here.

I am not guilty of the crime.  Why do I need an attorney?

Even though you are not guilty of the carjacking, you still need a dedicated attorney on your side to defend your case.

Will I go to jail?

If convicted, you will probably serve time in jail, but we will do what we can to limit the amount of jail time that you do.

Should I speak with prosecutors about my case?

No.  Anything you say to them can be used against you.  Let a Tampta carjacking attorney speak with prosecutors on your behalf.

I was forced into carjacking.  What should I do?

We will dive deeply into the issue and come up with a valid defense if you were forced to do something you didn’t want to do.

Call Tampa Carjacking Lawyer Taracks & Associates Today

If you are convicted of carjacking, you could spend a long time in prison and face hefty fines.  An experienced carjacking attorney can help. The attorneys at Taracks & Associates have helped thousands of clients defend their case in court against tough prosecutors.  We know how they prepare for cases and how they try them in front of a jury.

Remember, you are innocent until proven guilty.  We will work hard to defend your case and will work diligently and creatively to help in your defense.  So, give us a call today at 813-281-2897 for a free consultation.